Knife Crime Statistics UK vs US: Which Country has the Highest Number of Knife Crimes?
Knife crime is defined as using a knife or other bladed weapon to cause injury or death to another person. This type of crime has increased in many western countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States.
So, what does the knife crime statistics UK vs. US indicate? Which of the two countries has the highest numbers?
Knife crime is a more serious issue in the United States than in the UK. There were an average of 4.96 incidents per 1 million people in 2016 in the US. On the other hand, the UK had 3.26 incidents per 1 million people that same year.
For the years after 2016, knife crimes have continued to be higher in the US per a million people than in the UK.
Here is a breakdown of knife statistics in the US and UK. We will also include additional tips on how to avoid being part of these statistics.
Knife Crime Statistics UK vs US: A Quick Comparison
| Year | Knife Violence in the US | Knife Violence in the UK |
| 2016 to 2017 | 1562 | 216 |
| 2017 to 2018 | 1608 | 281 |
| 2018 to 2019 | 1542 | 260 |
| 2019 to 2020 | 1476 | 270 |
| 2020 to 2021 | 1739 | 235 |
Knife Crime Statistics UK vs US: Here Are The Numbers
Here is a comparison of knife crimes in the two countries from 2016 to 2019. We will also include a comparison of the current projected/estimated figures.
2016 to 2017
That year, there were 1,562 knife crimes in the US and 216 events in the UK. It’s important to note that these statistics include only cases of murder or manslaughter. They do not include other violence involving knives or weapons, such as intimidation or minor injuries.
The numbers for this year are striking: 3.26 deaths per million people in the UK and 4.96 deaths per million people in the US. The figures show that there were much more homicides in the US than in Britain.
2017 to 2018
The United Kingdom and the United States saw an increase in knife violence in 2017.
In 2017, the number of fatal knife attacks in the United Kingdom spiked to 281, up from 216 in the previous year. In the US, there were 1,608 deaths that year as a result of knife attacks.
The number of fatal knife attacks in the US has increased—a trend that has been consistent over the preceding years.
2018 to 2019
Knife crime in the U.S. is a serious problem. According to the FBI, the country saw 1,542 homicides committed with knives or sharp instruments in 2018.
So it remained almost constant compared to the numbers of 2017 when there were 1,608 deaths by knife.
In terms of raw numbers, this means that every day for that year, approximately 4 to 5 people were killed by a knife or sharp instrument in the U.S.
The UK had 260 murders committed using knives or sharp instruments in 2018. That year, one to two people were murdered with a knife or other sharp instrument in the country every two days.
2019 to 2020
The United Kingdom experienced a spike in knife crime during that year, but the United States continues to be the country with the highest number of deaths due to knife violence.
The United Kingdom had 270 deaths in 2019, while the United States saw 1,476 deaths. This spike can be attributed to Covid 19 containment measures in the UK.
In contrast, Covid 19 containment measures resulted in a decrease in knife crime in the United States.
Estimates For 2020 to 2021
In the US, it is estimated that there were 1,739 deaths from knife crime in 2020. In the UK, it was estimated that 235 people died from knife crime from 2020 to 2021.
The FBI has not yet released the official statistics for the US in the year 2020. So, these estimates are only rough estimates.
The estimates are based on their respective populations and how many incidents have been reported to them over time.
Knife Crime Rate Comparison: UK vs US
We’ve seen the gross numbers of knife crimes are much higher in the US than it’s in the UK. One reason is the USA is a larger country with a larger population.
Comparing the gross numbers won’t give you a clear picture. So let’s compare the knife crime rates between both these countries.
In 2017/18, there were 319 knife murders in Britain, taking the rate to 0.48 per 100,000. And in the US, the number of knife murders for the same year was 1,591, with an almost identical rate to the UK, which is 0.49.
So homicides committed with knives are trivially high in the US compared to the UK.
Now we can take two big cities having almost similar populations into consideration, the NY and London. We see the knife homicide rate is 3.5 per 100,000 in NY, compared to the rate of 1.5, in London.
For this reason, New York is twice as deadly as London when it comes to committing murders using knives.
So it should give you an overall picture of the comparison, which indicates the USA is more prone to knife crimes than the UK.
Why Does The US Have More Knife Violence Homicides Than The UK?
There are more knife violence homicides in the United States than in the United Kingdom. This is largely due to easy access to knives in most states and carrying a small knife without being charged with a crime.
Carrying a small knife in most US states is not illegal. What is illegal is using a knife to intimidate or perform a crime.
In the UK, carrying any kind of knife in public places without a good reason is illegal. It should be no longer than 3 inches if you carry a knife. It should not be a lock knife, either.
How To Avoid Being Part Of These Statistics
Knife violence is among the leading causes of death in the US and UK. This is tragic and one of the reasons you must ensure you’re aware of how to stay safe from knife violence.
1. Always be alert and aware
When staying safe from knife violence, you want to be aware of your surroundings. Knife violence is a serious problem, and awareness is the first step toward prevention.
When you’re aware of what’s happening around you, you can protect yourself from being stabbed—and hopefully, save a life. You can see things before they happen. You have time to get out of the way or protect yourself.
Be on the lookout for anyone looking suspicious or confused, or disoriented. If you see someone behaving out of place with their surroundings, report them to local authorities immediately.
2. Plan your journeys ahead
In the world of knife violence, planning is a must.
Try to plan for where you’ll be and when. You don’t want to be caught off guard when it comes time for a fight. Plan with your friends and family, too.
Consider visiting places during their peak hours.
3. Do not display your valuables
If you do not display your valuables, it can also be a good way to deter knife attacks from happening in the first place.
It is important to remember that displaying your valuables makes you an easier target for a knife attack. If you are carrying cash or jewelry, keep it hidden and always know where your belongings are.
4. Trust your instincts
You’re intelligent, and you know what’s right for you. So when you feel like something is wrong, don’t ignore that instinct. It can help keep you safe from knife violence.
By trusting your instincts, you’ll be able to avoid situations that could lead to knife violence. Maybe someone in the area looks shady—maybe they’re wearing gangster clothes.
Maybe they’re looking at you funny or just too creepy to be normal. Trust your instincts! Stay away from them if it makes sense for your safety and well-being.
FAQs
Here are answers to some of the questions you might have:
Which country has the highest gun violence homicides?
The country with the highest gun violence homicide rate is, of course, the United States, where the rate stands at 53 people per day.
On the other hand, the UK had 31 homicides from 2020 to 2021. This translates to a rate of 1 person per 12 days.
The US is not alone in this ranking: other countries like Brazil and Russia also have high gun violence deaths and injuries.
What do I do in the event of a knife attack?
It may be tempting to try to fight back, but you must understand that knife attacks are not about winning or losing. They are about survival; the only way to survive is to run away from your attacker as quickly as possible.
If you’re lucky enough to escape their grasp, don’t stop running! You need to keep going until you’re far away from them and safe. If you can’t escape, comply and give them whatever they ask.
Conclusion
The US has a higher rate and incidents of knife violence than the UK. For the past five years, the rate of homicides caused by knives has been higher in the US than in the UK.
The UK has several laws to help prevent knife crime, including harsher punishments for those convicted of carrying knives.
The UK also has policies designed to keep young people from obtaining knives. These policies have been successful in helping reduce knife violence in the country.
But when it comes to the US, it’s a completely different case, where knife possession isn’t regulated well.
